Ravens RB Rice honored with Sun's Wheatley Award

Pictures of the Ravens game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.

Aaron Wilson and Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun

Ravens running back Ray Rice has been an advocate for pro-kindness and anti-bullying efforts, held summer camps for kids in Baltimore and his hometown of New Rochelle, N.Y., and helped students in Baltimore get fit. Those are just several of the reasons why he received the third Tim Wheatley Award for Community Service Friday at the Under Armour Performance Center.

The award, given annually, was created by the Baltimore Sun Media Group to honor a local athlete whose contributions off the field are as important as the ones on the field. Wheatley, The Baltimore Sun's sports editor from 2006 to 2009, was killed in a car accident while driving his daughter, Sarah, to school on Oct. 5, 2009. Wheatley was a strong believer in community service.

Rice is also a supporter of his teammates' efforts to give back, frequently appearing at their community events or fundraisers.

Following Ravens practice Friday, Tim Wheatley's children, David, Will and Sarah, and his wife, Beth, presented the award to Rice after being welcomed by Harbaugh.

"First off, to the Wheatley family, it's an honor to be recognized in the family's name because obviously what your dad stood for, we should all be proud of," Rice said. "He was a great man, a great humanitarian to the community. One thing about me and football, football is a tool I use to be able to give back to others. My work in the community with the Ravens and everybody else that I've worked with, it's something that I not only take pride in, but I love to do.

"And to be honored in your father's name is an honor for me. I can only say that I am blessed to be able to carry his legacy on through all of you guys and Baltimore."

The other finalist for this year's Wheatley Award was the Orioles' Jim Johnson, who is the club's nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. Clemente nominees are chosen for their on-field and off-field contributions.

Last year's Wheatley Award winner was the Orioles' Adam Jones and the first winner in 2010 was the Ravens' Domonique Foxworth.

All four questionable Ravens have been limited participants in practice the past days, though they are expected to play, and Harbaugh said "they had a good week of practice."

End zone

Rice said he spoke to teammate Ray Lewis, who had surgery to repair a right triceps tear, and the injured linebacker is in "good spirits." Rice said that Lewis' focus was trying to come back this season rather than making a decision on whether he'll play next year. "He's going to work as hard as he can to get back this year, and he'll do whatever it takes." … Cornerback Lardarius Webb said on his Twitter page Friday that he was "out of surgery and feeling great" after having left anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tears repaired … Texans defensive end David Hunter (toe) was ruled out for Sunday, while cornerback Johnathan Joseph (groin) and safety Quintin Demps (thumb/forearm) are questionable. Twelve other Texans are probable.